First time grower, droopy leaves

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IndicaDeadHead

Member
Hey everybody. First time grower here. So my seedlings popped 8 days ago(growing 3 afghani auto flowers). I used rapid rooters in Tupperware, on a heat pad. They came right up when I planted the rapid rooters directly into their final 5 gallon grow bags(I think they are more like 4 gallon though). I'm using coco/Perlite 50/50 mix. Then I put them under t-5 high output fluorescents. I kept them there for 7 days, while feeding RO water and 2 mil of cal mag per gallon. One seedling was stressed because I dropped the damn rapid rooter, so I left that plant(which was brooding a little slower than the other 2) under the t-5. The other 2, I moved yesterday to my 3x3 room. Using 2 bloomspect 600w full spectrum LED, on veg switch. Had them about 24-26 inches away. Using GH nutes(lucas formula for autos). I also started feeding 2 mil cal mag, 2 mil micro, 4 mil bloom and 2.5 mil slf-100 per gallon of RO water. Put them into water in that order, mixing up after I add each nute. I then ph to 6. Been feeding since day 6(2 days). I Usually water once a day, to 20% runoff, which I use a shop vac to suck out the standing water after every watering. I may ordered GH silica(armor si) but have not used it yet. Anyway, plants are growing, and look nice and green. But the 2 that I moved under the LED's seem to have droopy leaves. The one that is still under the t-5 does not, but the leaves are not as big on that one due to shock when I dropped it. So I'm thinking it is due to the LED's? Also I've read maybe over-watering? Although my coco/Perlite mix is really well drained. Maybe not enough water? But I thoroughly saturate the entire 5 gallon grow bag on each plant, once a day. I've moved my LED's up to about 33-35 inches away earlier today(day 8)to see if maybe I had them too close? Do LED's cause droopy leaves? Also, the first 7 days I had them under 24/7 light(t-5) and when I switched to LED's and noticed droopy leaves I put them on a 20/4 timer. I'm thinking it has to due with putting them under the LEDs, but I'm a rookie so I'm not really sure. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks...(I can take closer pics if these are too far away)
 

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Bugeye

Bugeye

Well-Known Member
Hard to see anything in those photos. I'm not an led grower, but in general when you switch light sources you want to ease them into it, like hardening off a plant going from indoors to outdoors. So you can raise the lights a bit or just give a little shade during middle of your light cycle. Good luck!
 
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IndicaDeadHead

Member
Thank you. So I should basically keep the light a little further.. And I'm also going to give them a little rest time by keeping my lights on a 20/4 cycle. Does anyone think the slf-100 would make leaves droopy?
 
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IndicaDeadHead

Member
Thanks for input mo. I definitely may be overwatering. I give about 2 gallons, between three(plants) - 5 gallon grow bags. Everyday. All 50/50 coco Perlite mix. That's the only way I can get 20% run off. Seedlings are 9 days old. I have heard its very hard to over water coco/Perlite, but will tone it down for next few days and just water around the plants, instead of saturating whole pot.
 
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IndicaDeadHead

Member
Also what should I do to see if it is a over watering issue? How long should I give no water? Last watering was last night.I have been giving 1/4 strength nutes(lucas formula,less for autos). If it was over watering, would there be a nute lock out? Should I flush with slf-100 only(no nutes)?
 
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Palmerrdgrower

Palmerrdgrower

Well-Known Member
IndicaDeadHead said:
Also what should I do to see if it is a over watering issue? How long should I give no water? Last watering was last night.I have been giving 1/4 strength nutes(lucas formula,less for autos). If it was over watering, would there be a nute lock out? Should I flush with slf-100 only(no nutes)?
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You seem to have the cart before the horse with the nutrients. Lift the pots just before you water and then after you water them. To see the weight difference.when dry you will notice how light they are. I would relax a bit on the nutrients until they have more leaves and nodes sometimes when people are new the can kill their plants with kindness. Best of luck
 
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IndicaDeadHead

Member
Ok thanks palm! Yeah I see what you are saying. I will start learning what the difference in weight of pots is, have not really checked that yet. Would it be safe to just feed with 2 mil cal mag, and 2 mil slf-1000/gallon for a few days(no nutes). Just wondering if I should put something in the ph'd RO water as I've heard not to feed coco plain water.
 
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IndicaDeadHead

Member
And my third plant, which is under a t5, I didn't take a pic of. It was stunted a little in the beginning, but now looking much better, no droopy leaves(same nutes, cal mag and air circulation). Here is a pic of her.
 

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I

IndicaDeadHead

Member
I may try and move my LED's a little higher. From what I can tell It has to be the lighting, because everything is the same(except the one that was shocked in the beginning is under a t5) while the other two are droopy under the LED's. But maybe watering? Thanks a lot everyone. They look really healthy and green, and growing, just droopy. Oh yeah I have fans pointed down directly on the two droopy ones, and a fan on the side of the stunted(smaller one)would that cause droopiness?
 
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I

IndicaDeadHead

Member
Also it may be a low humidity issue? I've been researching and auto seedlings like their humidity up around 60-70%(seedlings only) . Read that they tend to curl down(droop) as a natural way to hold more humidity) Mine has been hovering around 30-40%. And sometimes high 20's. So I threw my mini humidifier into my tent a few hours ago, and they seem to be straightening out(by naked eye, I will take a picture tonight and post it). I did end up giving water/nutes last night around 8 pm.(less then usual). LED's are at about 32-34 inches away.
 
Thundercat

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
I think you are over watering. Those are tiny little seedlings. They aren't drinking that much water every day. My seedlings don't even get put into pots until they have actual fan leaves(not just a single leaf) and some decent roots to drink with.

Letting your medium dry enough is an important part of the process. As the medium dries it pulls oxygen in for the roots to absorb. If it stays wet that won't happen as easily and the roots and drown basically.
 
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IndicaDeadHead

Member
Thanks thundercat. I'm NOT going to water/feed at all today(I mean it this time lol) By doing that and letting the coco/perlite dry out, I won't be causing any problems or anything will I? I've read not to let coco dry out. And if this is a over watering issue, are my seedlings screwed(like should i start over?) Thanks, ill post new pics later tonight, there was definate growth.
 
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Thundercat

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
You shouldn't be screwed. You can start more as a back up if you want but these should be fine if you let them do their thing and start to grow. Are they in peat pellets?

You don't want the medium to get bone dry and hard that's all, but it needs to get dry enough for air to enter it. You really shouldn't be worrying about nutes or runoff this early on. Just a small amount of water to give the plant something to drink.

Were their many roots showing before you transplanted?
 
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